Flow Tent System

ABSTRACT

A disclosed air control system includes a tent having at least one air flow compartment integrated with the tent fabric and configured to define openings in the tent fabric for an air flow interior to the tent. The disclosure also includes at least one flexible tubing having a releasable attachment on a first end to an external air control unit and a releasable attachment on a second end to a complementary attachment integrated on an outside wall of the tent. The disclosure additionally includes at least one releasable attachment for an air inlet hose integrated with the tent fabric and in communication with the at least one air flow compartment. The disclosure further includes at least one releasable closure for the at least one releasable attachment, the at least one releasable closure configured to seal the tent wall in the absence of an air pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Summer camping can be hot inside a tent that is closed for mosquitocontrol. Campers offer air conditioning but are prohibitively expensivefor many people who want to get away from home. Trailers, tent trailersand tents are less expensive but do not offer air conditioning. On theother hand, air moving fans offer some relief but simply push air aroundinside a tent and cannot offer relief in extreme climates.

Portable A/C units and portable heaters offer some relief where there iselectricity available but are not very efficient and after markethookups are makeshift and prone to malfunction. The hookup of separatelysold units aren't reliable not to mention bulky and heavy and timeconsuming for interfacing connections.

There is therefore a long felt need in the market for a functional,light-weight and convenient airflow tent system that is also able totransform into a portable and transportable unit with other camping gearand for semi-permanent housing needs in military, government andemergency situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disclosed air control system includes a tent having at least one airflow compartment integrated with the tent fabric and configured todefine openings in the tent fabric for an air flow interior to the tent.The disclosure also includes at least one flexible tubing having areleasable attachment on a first end to an external air control unit anda releasable attachment on a second end to a complementary attachmentintegrated on an outside wall of the tent. The disclosure additionallyincludes at least one releasable attachment for an air inlet hoseintegrated with the tent fabric and in communication with the at leastone air flow compartment. The disclosure further includes at least onereleasable closure for the at least one releasable attachment, the atleast one releasable closure configured to seal the tent wall in theabsence of an air pressure.

The portable air control device further includes a first flexible tubingfor an external air inlet and a second flexible tubing for an externalair outlet with respect to the outside wall of the tent. Also, the atleast one releasable closure comprises a releasable cap configured toseal the tent wall from air flow into or from the interior of the tentand a one-way valve configured to let an airflow into the tent interiorbut not from the tent interior. Furthermore, a remote control unit forone of an A/C unit, a heater unit and a reversible heat pump unit isincluded as well as a thermostadt for automatic or manual airtemperature and pressure control on a periodic timed basis.

A disclosed method of portable air control includes constructing a tenthaving at least one air flow compartment integrated with the tentfabric. The at least one air flow compartment is configured to define aplurality of openings in the tent fabric for an air flow interior to thetent. The method also includes providing at least one releasableattachment for an air hose integrated with an outside wall of the tentfabric and in communication with the at least one air flow compartment.The method further includes engineering at least one releasable closurefor the at least one releasable attachment, the at least one releasableclosure configured to seal the outside tent wall in the absence of anair flow.

Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way ofexample of the principles of the disclosure herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an outside perspective view of a pre-assembled flow tentsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an outside perspective view of an assembled flow tent systemin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an elongate flow pocket in thecorner of a flow tent wall and floor or ceiling in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cut away diagram of a flow tent system in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the description, similar and same reference numbers may beused to identify similar and same elements in the several embodimentsand drawings. Although specific embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms orarrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of theinvention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in thedrawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same.It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope ofthe disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to a person of ordinary skill inthe relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to beconsidered within the scope of the invention.

Throughout the present disclosure, the term ‘flow’ refers to apressurized air flow in a ductlike structure integral with a tentfabric. The term ‘compartment’ refers to a division of tent parts for atemperature controlled air flow. The term ‘releasable’ refers to anability to connect and disconnect at will to inlcude threadedconnections, pressure fit connections, twist connections, and the like.The terms ‘air inlet’ and ‘air outlet’ are interchangeable withrespective terms ‘air supply’ and ‘air return,’ and are used withrespect to an interior air space of the tent.

FIG. 1 is an outside perspective view of a pre-assembled flow tentsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thedepicted embodiment includes a flow tent 5, an air supply or inlet 10, aflexible air hose 15, an adapter 20 to connect the flexible air hose 15to the tent 5, an Air Conditioning unit (A/C), heater unit or reversibleheat pump unit 25 and an air return or outlet supply hose 30. A shorterflexible supply air hose 15 may be used when an internal ducting isbuilt into the flow tent 5. The return or outlet for air hose 30 isusually located near a base of the tent for a cool air return but forheating systems where hot air rises the inlet or supply may be switchedwith the outlet or return so that hot air is supplied near the base ofthe tent and is gathered for return near a ceiling or top of a tent.

FIG. 2 is an outside perspective view of an assembled flow tent systemin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. A disclosedair control system includes a tent 5 having at least one air flowcompartment 35 and 40 integrated with the tent fabric and configured todefine openings similar to 10 in the tent fabric for an air flowinterior to the tent 5. The disclosure also includes at least oneflexible tubing 15 having a releasable attachment 20 on a first end toan external air control unit and a releasable attachment on a second endto a complementary attachment integrated on an outside wall of the tent5. The disclosure additionally includes at least one releasableattachment for an air inlet hose 15 integrated with the tent fabric andin communication with the at least one air flow compartment 35. Thedisclosure further includes at least one releasable closure for the atleast one releasable attachment 10, the at least one releasable closureconfigured to seal the tent wall in the absence of an air pressure.

The air flow compartments 35 and 40 are elongate and extend along aportion of a tent seam between a wall of the tent 45 and one of aceiling and a floor 50 of the tent 5. The air flow compartments 35 and40 are comprised of the tent fabric and the plurality of openings 45 and50 in the tent fabric are distributed across the air flow compartmentsto distribute one of cooled air and heated air from an outside unit.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an elongate flow pocket in thecorner of a flow tent wall and floor or ceiling in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. The air flow compartments comprisethree walls including a floor 60 of the tent, a wall 55 of the tent anda webbing 65 sewn there between, the webbing 65 comprising the pluralityof openings 70 for the air flow interior to the tent 5.

FIG. 4 is a cut away diagram of a flow tent system in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. The drawing illustrates a webbing75 between a wall 45 and the floor 80, the webbing having air outlet orcold air vents 85. Webbing 70 is formed with the wall 45 and the ceiling(not shown) with air inlet vents 80. The flow tent may therefore berolled up like conventional tents because the webbing is also made oftent fabric and lays flat with the rest of a flat tent for moving andstorage.

A first air flow compartment for an air inlet and a second air flowcompartment for an air outlet relative to the tent interior. A firstreleasable attachment for an air inlet and a second releasableattachment for an air outlet from one of an A/C unit and a heater unit.At least one flexible tubing having a releasable attachment on a firstend to one of an A/C unit and a heater unit and a releasable attachmenton a second end to the releasable attachment integrated on the outsidewall of the tent. A first flexible tubing for an external air inlet anda second flexible tubing for an external air outlet with respect to theoutside wall of the tent.

At least one releasable closure comprises a releasable cap configured toseal the tent wall from air flow into or from the interior of the tent.At least one releasable closure comprises a one-way valve configured tolet an airflow into the tent interior but not from the tent interior.

A remote control unit for one of an A/C unit, a heater unit and areversible heat pump unit. The remote control unit therefore allows anoccupant of the tent to operate air control without having to leave thetent. The remote control includes a thermostat for automatic control aswell as manual control. Concomitant electronics are also included at theA/C unit, the heater unit or the heat pump unit for remote control.

When the second air flow ducting for cold air return is not used,outside air may be pulled into the system to reduce humidity in dryclimates in various embodiments of the disclosure.

Therefore, the present disclosure satisfies the long felt need for aneconomical, secure and convenient air temperature control tent that isalso able to easily transform for packing, moving and hiking with othercamping equipment. The disclosed flow tent may also be used forsemi-permanent housing as needed for military, government and civilpurposes such as quarantine, emergency and war time. The presentdisclosure therefore is poised to become the tent of choice for hunters,fisherman and the survivalist hereafter to be known as the flow tentseries.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and describedin a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may bealtered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse orderor so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part,concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructionsor sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in anintermittent and/or alternating manner.

Notwithstanding specific embodiments of the invention have beendescribed and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to thespecific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated.The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims and theirequivalents included herein or by reference to a related application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable air control device comprising: a tentcomprising at least one air flow compartments integrated with a tentfabric of the tent and configured to define a plurality of openings inthe at least one air flow compartments for an air flow to an interior ofthe tent from an exterior of the tent; at least one releasableattachment for an air hose, the air hose integrated with an outside wallof the tent fabric and in communication with the at least one air flowcompartment to provide air from the exterior of the tent; and at leastone releasable closure for the at least one releasable attachment, theat least one releasable closure configured to seal the outside tent wallin the absence of an air flow from the exterior of the tent to theinterior of the tent.
 2. The portable air control device of claim 1,wherein the at least one air flow compartments are elongate and extendalong a portion of a tent seam between a wall of the tent and one of aceiling and a floor of the tent.
 3. The portable air control device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one air flow compartments are comprised ofthe tent fabric and the plurality of openings in the tent fabric aredistributed across the air flow compartments to distribute one of cooledair and heated air from an outside unit.
 4. The portable air controldevice of claim 1, wherein the at least one air flow compartments arewebbing sewn between a floor of the tent, a ceiling of the tent and aplurality of walls there between, the webbing comprising the pluralityof openings for the air flow interior to the tent.
 5. The portable aircontrol device of claim 1, further comprising a first air flowcompartment for an air inlet and a second air flow compartment for anair outlet relative to the tent interior.
 6. The portable air controldevice of claim 1, further comprising a first releasable attachment ofthe at least one releasable attachment for an air inlet and a secondreleasable attachment of the at least one releasable attachment for anair outlet from one of an A/C unit and a heater unit.
 7. The portableair control device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible tubinghaving a releasable attachment of the at least one releasable attachmenton a first end to one of an A/C unit and a heater unit and a releasableattachment of the at least one releasable attachment on a second end tothe at least one releasable attachment integrated on the outside wall ofthe tent.
 8. The portable air control device of claim 1, furthercomprising a first air hose for an external air inlet and a second airhose for an external air outlet with respect to the outside wall of thetent.
 9. The portable air control device of claim 1, wherein the atleast one releasable closure comprises a releasable cap configured toseal the tent wall from air flow into or from the interior of the tent.10. The portable air control device of claim 1, wherein the at least onereleasable closure comprises a one-way valve configured to let anairflow into the tent interior but not from the tent interior.
 11. Theportable air control device of claim 1, further comprising a remotecontrol unit for one of an A/C unit, a heater unit and a reversible heatpump unit.
 12. A portable air control system comprising: a tentcomprising at least one air flow compartments integrated with a tentfabric and configured to define openings in the at least one air flowcompartments for an air flow interior to the tent from an exterior ofthe tent; at least one flexible tubing having an attachment on a firstend to an external air control unit and a releasable attachment on asecond end an outside wall of the tent, wherein the flexible tubingprovides an airflow from the external air control unit to an inside ofthe tent; at least one releasable attachment for the at least oneflexible tubing in communication with the at least one air flowcompartment; and at least one releasable closure for the at least onereleasable attachment, the at least one releasable closure configured toseal the tent wall in the absence of an air pressure.
 13. The portableair control system of claim 12, wherein the at least one air flowcompartments are elongate and extend along a portion of a tent seambetween a wall of the tent and one of a ceiling and a floor of the tent.14. The portable air control system of claim 12, wherein the at leastone air flow compartments are webbing sewn into the tent fabric and theplurality of openings in the at least one air flow compartments aredistributed across the tent to distribute one of cooled air and heatedair from an outside unit.
 15. The portable air control system of claim12, wherein the at least one air flow compartments comprise three wallsincluding a floor of the tent, a ceiling of the tent and a webbing sewnthere between, the webbing comprising the plurality of openings for theair flow interior to the tent.
 16. The portable air control system ofclaim 1, further comprising a first air flow compartment for an airinlet and a second air flow compartment for an air outlet relative tothe tent interior.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The portable air control system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one releasable closure comprises areleasable cap configured to seal the tent wall from air flow into orfrom the interior of the tent.
 19. The portable air control system ofclaim 1, further comprising a remote control unit for one of an A/Cunit, a heater unit and a reversible heat pump unit.
 20. A method ofportable air control, the method comprising: constructing a tentcomprising at least one air flow compartment integrated with a tentfabric and configured to define a plurality of openings in the at leastone air flow compartment for an air flow interior to the tent from anexterior of the tent; providing at least one releasable attachment foran air hose, the air hose integrated with an outside wall of the tentfabric and in communication with the at least one air flow compartment;and providing at least one releasable closure for the at least onereleasable attachment, the at least one releasable closure configured toseal the outside tent wall in the absence of an air flow.